Obama's Prime-Time Addresses Could Cost Networks Millions In Lost Ad Dollars

President Obama's desire to talk -- and talk, and talk -- to the American public could cost broadcast networks millions, and millions, and millions of prime-time TV dollars.

Broadcasters are bracing themselves for the likelihood of three prime-time interruptions in three weeks, totaling at least three hours of prime time -- and ad breaks -- yanked.

"His economic stimulus package apparently does not extend to the TV networks," one network exec noted

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[apoyo]

Best news I've heard all year. Keep it up, President Obama. The people want to hear the truth and if the corporate media refuses to deliver it then you must.

[naschkatze]

He will cost the networks no more than Bush did with his cheerleading peptalks on the Iraq War to which no one tuned in. Obama will have higher ratings and get more people watching those networks and cables than Bush did. They, however, like the CEOs, do not like what Obama is going to say.

[PoliticalAmazon]

I hate these halo pictures. Media photographers went through a spell when every picture of Bush Jr had a halo, either literally or implid by lighting, around his head.

Let's not start this with Obama.

[Chem is she]

Someone else said it but I'll repeat it, "boo-hoo".

The networks can make their vast fortune in America and the president is asking them to give a little bit back during a global crisis. Negative response to this is shameful.

[ObamaEdwards]

If this story had run during the Bush administration it would have been labeled ANTI-AMERICAN. Where do the Washington Post and Lisa de Moraes get off, writing an anti-Obama story like this?

Obama is the president. We are in an economic crisis. Millions of Americans are in crisis, and we need to know what Obama thinks and what he is doing. Obviously we cannot trust TV or print journalists to keep us informed, because even MSNBC spends all of its "news" time sniping and letting biased guests take potshots at the president and his plans. So, since TV journalists are worthless, we need to hear the news directly from Obama.

To anyone who thinks it matters that networks lose ratings on their stupid shows because Obama has things to say: GO TO HELL.

[leftofliberal01]

of course if the networks did their jobs, like reporting on the stimulus package -
pros and cons of every item-, the president would probably not have to do this.

oh i forgot, we dont have journalism in this country anymore...just bots that
spew what they are given.

[pbuchberg]

How dare the President deprive the broadcast networks of their advertising dollars by making a speech! Doesn't he understand just how much they need those dollars? (See related news today: "media executives often used corporate credit cards to pay for $2,000 an hour prostitutes, according to the madam who ran one of New York's biggest and most expensive escort services until it was busted last year.")

[gene1138]

How refreshing that a president would want to talk and talk and talk to the people. I think we've seen Obama more in the last 2 weeks than we saw Bush in at least 4 years of his presidency.

[amantell]

I see the TV networks' loss of income while Obama promotes the stimulus package as karmic justice for their unwillingness to put more time and money into educational or news programming. In light of how much television content is pure pablum, one or more of Obama's speeches will represent a significant upgrade in the quality of what's being broadcasted. Since the studios have willfully distorted the news for years to suit their own purposes, for the President to break through the curtain of obfuscation they've lowered over the airwaves and speak to the people directly is good for everybody.

[scorpioleidy]

Funny ... but I don't remember the networks ever complaining when The Decider went on during primetime ... hmmm ...

[NCRDIBULL]

he had something to say

[unite4change]

I thought this deserved a repost:

http://www.openleft.com/showComment.do?commentId=146670


Short and interesting read.

[AGarcia]

Thanks for posting this. Everyone should READ THIS! Major networks should be non-partisan but obviously aren't. We need whistle-blowers to come out and make these guys explain themselves to the American public.

[hortonhearsawho2]

Okay boss, I'll just write some story...

[Savanna]

Television is so terrible now that it would be a relief to have some intelligent person speaking on the air. Sorry about the money, these are hard times for everyone. You need not be exempt.

[Carol06095]

I found it interestering that last night when the President addressed the Demoncrats in Virginia that Fox News carried it live. No major network did, neither did MSNBC or CNN.

[geejai54]

CNN carried it live on Cambell Brown's show

[gsuescum]

boo hoo. Without his leadership things will go down the tube and advertisers will stop advertising.

[nikky]

a lot of advertisers should stop advertising especially if people do not have money to buy their products that should help the repugs